TULSA, Okla., Oct. 26, 2009 - The U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), has awarded a three-year, $1.2 million grant to Family & Children's Services (F&CS) to expand trauma treatment for infants and young children.

The grant funds staff to train under two national developers of the best practice Child-Parent Psychotherapy Model in an effort to gain expertise vital to deliver this model in our local community. 

Child-Parent Psychotherapy originated in the Pediatric Departments at both University of San Francisco and Louisiana State University.

This funding also awards F&CS full membership in the National Child Traumatic Stress Network, comprised of national experts and developers of many evidence-based practices for traumatized children.

F&CS is one of 26 community treatment programs throughout the United States selected to receive this prestigious award.  This funding will enable community agencies across the country to provide new evidence-based prevention, screening and treatment services for children who have been exposed to traumatic events; i.e. abuse, neglect, violence and natural disasters.

"This program builds resiliency in children by identifying and treating their mental health problems as early and comprehensively as possible," said SAMHSA Acting Administrator Eric Broderick, D.D.S., M.P.H. "This approach maximizes the impact community treatment  can have in improving the lives of children and their families recovering from traumatic experiences."

"We are honored to have been awarded this grant so we can add to our continuum of evidence-based practices for traumatized children and their families. It's all about making sure that children who have been harmed at no fault of their own have a chance to heal and live their lives fully," said Gail Lapidus, CEO, Family & Children's Services.